Man endures 200+ snakebites, blood used to create universal antivenom

A remarkable new antivenom, potentially capable of neutralising venom from a wide array of deadly snakes, has been developed using antibodies from a man who willingly endured over 200 snakebites over nearly two decades.

Tim Friede, a California resident, began injecting himself with venom from some of the world’s most poisonous snakes in 2001. For 18 years, his mission was simple but dangerous: help create a universal cure for snakebites. His unusual method of self-immunisation has now led to what scientists are calling a major breakthrough.

The turning point came in 2017, when immunologist Jacob Glanville discovered Friede’s story and reached out to him. “I know it's awkward, but I'm really interested in looking at some of your blood,” Glanville recalled. Friede's response? “Finally, I’ve been waiting for this call.”

Friede provided a 40-millilitre blood sample, which Glanville and his team, including Columbia University’s medical sciences professor Peter Kwong, used to develop a new antivenom. The resulting cocktail has shown effectiveness in protecting animals against fatal venom doses from 19 different snake species.

Traditional antivenoms are made by injecting animals, such as horses, with small amounts of venom and harvesting the antibodies their immune systems produce. However, these antivenoms often need to be species- and region-specific. This makes them less effective across borders. Friede’s blood-derived antibodies, by contrast, offer broad-spectrum protection, potentially addressing the issue of geographic limitations.

Though human testing has not yet begun, experts believe that antibodies sourced from a human donor like Friede may reduce adverse side effects commonly associated with animal-based antivenoms.

“Tim’s antibodies are really quite extraordinary,” said Prof. Kwong. “He trained his immune system to recognise an incredibly wide range of venoms.”

Friede, who stopped injecting himself in 2018 after several near-death experiences, now works with Glanville’s biotech company, Centivax, continuing to support the research from a safer distance.

Snakebites remain a major global health issue, with the World Health Organization reporting tens of thousands of deaths annually and hundreds of thousands more suffering from long-term disabilities.